Rex Brumley, Sr.

Rex G. Brumley, Sr. 78, passed away on Saturday, May 18, 2013, at his residence in DeRidder.  Rex was born in DeRidder, October 3, 1934, to Gaston and Jewel Wooley Brumley.  He was reared by his grandmother, Mary Elizabeth Strother Wooley and aunt, Icey Wooley Hall.  Rex loved his family and is survived by his wife of 44 1/2years, Juanita Miller Brumley; two sons, Rex Brumley, Jr. and wife Lois, of Ocean View, Hawaii, Robert Brumley and wife Sherrie, of DeRidder; two daughters, Robin Rhodes and Beth Duggar and husband Warren, all of DeRidder; 10 grandchildren: David Brumley, Ja Nae White, Fae Lambdin, Phillip Paul Lambdin, Tyler Brumley, Melody Seal and husband David, Cody Rhodes, Logan Brice, Warren Dugger II and Samantha Dugger; 8 great grandchildren, Colby and Wade White, Kennedy and Kailee Daniel, Caden and Caleb Strange and Bradley and Jada Seal.  Rex is also survived by one brother, Bobby Ray Blackwell and wife Janetta, of Comanche, TX, half-brother, Billy Brumley and wife Gloria, of Mansfield, LA and a host of nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, his grandparents, Fountain Pitts Wooley and Mary Elizabeth Strother Wooley, his aunt, Icey Wooley Hall; two brothers, Clifton Brumley and Benny Falcon; two sisters, June Brumley Weeks and Shirley Blackwell Barton and half sister, Sandra Brumley Utsey.

Rex served in the United States Air Force from November 21, 1952 until his honorable discharge on September 14, 1956.  He was in the 49th Inst. Squadron.  He was stationed at Lackland Air Force Base, Chennault in Lake Charles and Masawa, Japan.  His unit was sent to Seoul, Korea where their mission was to build roads in the mountains around Seoul.  His papers were lost and he was never given credit for serving in Korea.  Of his military service, he said he wouldn’t take a million dollars for his experiences, but wouldn’t give 2 cents to go back.

Rex had a lot of firsts in his life.   He was the first DeRidder City Policeman to graduate from the LSU Law Enforcement Academy; he organized and directed the first Beauregard Parish Police Reserve under Sheriff Paul Stark.  Rex received the first Public Service Award from the DeRidder Jaycees.  He was the first Louisiana Roads Scholar to be elected a parish police juror.  Rex was elected to two terms as a Beauregard District 3C juror.  Rex was a two-time Past Master of DeRidder Lodge #271 and was also a member of Sam Todd Lodge #182 in Sugartown.  He was a member of Habibi Temple in Lake Charles and Southwest Shrine Club in DeRidder.  He held a Gold Certificate of Proficiency from the Grand Lodge of the State of Louisiana, and had performed over 35 Masonic burial services.  Rex never met a stranger.  He enjoyed being with people.  He especially enjoyed the coffee-shop crowd.  He was employed at Fort Polk with the Cubic program.  Rex was excited and was anxious to begin his next tour of duty with the group of men and women he had grown to love.  Rex loved Grace Church, it’s members and his pastors, Rev. George Lee Glass, Rev. George L. Glass, Jr. and Rev. James Glass, who will all have a part in the service.

Visitation will be Tuesday, May 21, 2013 from 5:00pm until 9:00pm at Grace Church in DeRidder, LA.  Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at 12:00pm at Grace Church. Interment will follow at Beauregard Cemetery. Pallbearers will be grandsons and special friends of Rex:  Merlin Schales, Raymond Gragg, Tommy Brown, Roger Moses and Tim Hodges.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Grace Building Fund.